Pizarro: San Jose native completes treacherous Hawaii hike

I spent some time this week talking to photographer Ryan Moss, a San Jose native living in Hawaii who was sharing his tale of the most wild New Year's Eve you can imagine. He wasn't out partying like most other 30-year-olds but was at the tail end of a treacherous hike of Oahu's Ko'olau Summit Range that took him more than five full days to complete.

Moss, a graduate of St. Francis High in Mountain View, says he started the trek -- a mix of rock climbing and endurance trail running -- the morning of Dec. 27 and finished around 6 p.m. New Year's Day. He was finally successful after a couple of failed -- and painful -- previous attempts to follow in the footsteps of Chase Norton, who became the first documented person to complete the hike over the island's largest mountain range.

"It was a full emotional roller coaster," said Moss, who was doused with champagne by friends when he finished. "They asked me how I felt, and I really didn't have an answer."

Ironically, his interest in hiking started as a way to get over a drastic fear of heights. It's safe to say he's conquered that, too.

THE FORCE WILL BE WITH YOU LONGER: Good news for "Star Wars" fans in the Bay Area: The Tech Museum in downtown San Jose has extended the run of "Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination" through March 23. And for its final months, a display for bounty hunter Boba Fett has been added to the traveling exhibition, which is on the final stop of a 20-city tour.

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In addition to the Empire's most famous independent contractor, you can also see scores of used props, models and costumes from the six legendary movies. Go to www.thetech.org for ticket information.

LIONS' FEAST: Supporters of the Lincoln High School Foundation should be treated to quite a view at the foundation's annual brunch, which is being held Feb. 9 in the rarer air of the San Jose Country Club, nestled in the city's east foothills.

Foundation President Marla Duino Lenz was able to pull a few strings to get the event at the private club. After all, she's the niece of Eddie Duino, who was the golf pro there for 50 years (not to mention the PGA Club Pro of the year in 1959) and has a room at the club named for him.

Tickets can be purchased for $80 a person through Feb. 5 by sending a check made out to the Lincoln High School Foundation with your contact information to Lincoln High School, Attn: Lincoln Foundation, 555 Dana Ave., San Jose CA 95126.